MUKILTEO – The 60-year-old Mukilteo Ferry Terminal is one step closer to replacement. On Friday, Aug. 22 the Federal Transit Administration signed a record of decision allowing the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division to design and construct a new ferry terminal in Mukilteo, WA.

The Mukilteo terminal is one of the state’s busiest terminals, serving nearly 4 million passengers last year. However, the terminal is vulnerable to earthquakes and in need of major repairs to continue safe, reliable ferry service between Mukilteo and Clinton.

“After a decade of environmental review and collaboration with federal, state, and local officials, tribes, and the public we’re looking forward to building a safe and efficient new terminal that opens the Mukilteo waterfront and improves access to transit,” said Capt. George Capacci, interim assistant secretary for WSF.

The selected alternative, known as a modified Elliot Point 2 (pdf 1 mb), relocates the ferry terminal one-third of a mile east of the existing terminal along Mukilteo’s waterfront. The new terminal location is adjacent to the Mukilteo Tank Farm, an abandoned U.S. Air Force Fuel Depot site.

The project increases efficiency and capacity, featuring separated and safer loading for pedestrians, and improves connections to commuter rail and transit services.

The cost to relocate the ferry terminal is approximately $129 million. WSF recently secured $16.8 million in federal grants and plans to begin the first phase of construction in spring 2015. This work will include removing an old pier on the Mukilteo Tank Farm site to make room for the new ferry terminal. The new terminal is expected to open in 2019.

The record of decision and other documents are available for review on the project website.